Anti-withdrawal device for preventing a key from being withdrawn from an ignition starter switch of an automobile

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an anti-withdrawal device for preventing a key from being withdrawn from an ignition starter switch of an automobile, comprising a blocking device which is coupled with a switch contact of a transmission. The spring-loaded blocking pin of said blocking device can be actuated electromagnetically. The blocking device acts on a detent pawl which is fixed on a rotor of the ignition starter switch and which prevents the ignition starter switch from twisting into a position in which the key can be withdrawn; depending on the position of the transmission. Said blocking device and said ignition starter switch are introduced into a steering-column switch housing that is integral with the casing tube, whereupon the blocking device locks mechanically and is electrically coupled with connection contacts of the ignition starter switch through terminal contacts, said ignition starter switch being connected by a printed circuit board in the steering-column switch housing to an electrical supply system.

[0001] The invention pertains to a locking arrangement for preventing akey from being pulled out of an ignition starting switch of a motorvehicle, with a locking mechanism that is coupled to a switching contactof the transmission, wherein the spring-loaded locking pin of saidlocking mechanism can be electromagnetically actuated, and wherein thelocking mechanism acts upon a detent pawl that is fixed on a rotor ofthe ignition starting switch and prevents the ignition starting switchfrom being turned into a position in which the key can be pulled outdepending on the gear position of the transmission.

[0002] DE 43 32 478 C2 discloses a locking arrangement for preventing akey from being pulled out of an ignition starting switch of a motorvehicle with automatic or manual transmission. The locking arrangementoperates depending on the transmission being shifted in the “park” or“locked” gear position in which the driving wheels of the motor vehicleare blocked. In this case, an electromagnetic or electromechanic lockingmechanism that is connected to a switching contact of the transmissioncooperates with a locking shoulder that is arranged on the rotor of theignition starting switch and prevents the ignition starting switch frombeing turned into a position in which the key can be pulled outdepending on the gear position of the transmission. The lockingmechanism on the ignition starting switch consists of an electromagnetwith a spring-loaded plunger that blocks the moving path of the rotorcontaining the locking shoulder with a projection arranged on its freeend in the “key locked” position. In this locking arrangement, thehousing of the ignition starting switch which accommodates the lockingmechanism needs to be designed relatively large in order to accommodatethe corresponding components. In addition, the housing is fixed on thesteering column jacket of the motor vehicle. The locking mechanism andthe ignition starting switch are also electrically separated from oneanother. This results in a significant installation expenditure becauseseparate supply lines need to be installed and connected for the lockingmechanism, as well as for the ignition starting switch.

[0003] EP 0 646 939 A1 also discloses an ignition starting switch for amotor vehicle which contains a receptacle for an auxiliary device thatcooperates with the ignition starting switch, e.g., a lockingarrangement for preventing pulling of the key out of the ignitionstarting switch. The housing of the ignition starting switch contains alaterally protruding housing projection that is provided with areceptacle opening, into which an insert with the auxiliary device canbe inserted. The insert completely covers the receptacle opening and isfixed on the housing projection by means of a separable snap-onconnection. Although a mechanical coupling with the auxiliary device isrealized in this ignition starting switch, an electric connection withthe auxiliary device is not produced so that separate supply lines forthe ignition starting switch and the auxiliary device inserted into itshousing also need to be provided in this case.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of developing a lockingarrangement of the initially described type for preventing pulling of akey out of an ignition starting switch of a motor vehicle, wherein saidlocking arrangement can be easily installed, has a compact design andcan be inexpensively manufactured.

[0005] According to the invention, this objective is attained byrespectively inserting the locking mechanism and the ignition startingswitch into separate openings in the housing of a steering column switchthat is rigidly arranged on the steering column jacket, wherein thelocking mechanism is mechanically interlocked with the housing of thesteering column switch after being inserted therein and electricallyconnected to contacts of the ignition starting switch via terminalcontacts, and wherein the ignition starting switch is connected to anon-board network via a printed circuit board arranged in the housing ofthe steering column switch.

[0006] These measures result in a locking arrangement that has a verycompact design because the locking mechanism and the ignition startingswitch are directly inserted into separate openings of the steeringcolumn switch housing. The simple installation is achieved due to thefact that the locking mechanism is interlocked with the steering columnswitch housing after being inserted therein, with the electricconnection between the ignition starting switch and the lockingmechanism simultaneously being produced. This eliminates the need foradditional connecting lines that connect the locking mechanism to theon-board network. The printed circuit board that is connected to theignition starting switch represents the only connection with theon-board network that also comprises the switching contact of thetransmission. In addition, no separate housing needs to be provided forthe ignition starting switch held in the steering column switch housing.

[0007] The locking mechanism preferably comprises a modular housing thatis composed of a lower housing part and an upper housing part and servesfor accommodating a coil element with terminal contacts that arerealized in the form of tuning fork contacts and arranged on its endface. The tuning fork contacts ensure that a reliable connection withthe contacts of the ignition starting switch can be easily produced.Since the components are accommodated in the modular housing of thelocking mechanism, they are protected from becoming damaged while thereare handled, i.e., while being transported, stored and installed. Due tothis design, the locking mechanism can, if so required, also be insertedinto the steering column switch housing in the form of a separatemodule. In this case, the proper function of the ignition startingswitch is also ensured if no locking mechanism is inserted.

[0008] In order to separably mount the locking mechanism in the steeringcolumn switch housing, the lower housing part preferably contains aclip-on arm for being mechanically interlocked with the steering columnswitch housing. The lower housing part and the clip-on arm areintegrally manufactured by means of an injection molding process.

[0009] In order to achieve an installation that requires hardly anytools and can be automated relatively easily, the lower housing part andthe upper housing part of the modular housing are held together by meansof snap-on elements, and the tuning fork contacts protrude from acorresponding opening in the lower housing part.

[0010] According to one advantageous additional development of theinvention, a spring-loaded locking disk with a catch is rotatablysupported in the upper housing part above the tuning fork contacts,wherein the catch protrudes from an opening in the modular housing andcooperates with the detent pawl of the ignition starting switch on onehand and with the locking pin on the other hand in the locked positionin which the key cannot be pulled out of the ignition starting switch.The catch that is acted upon by the locking pin cooperates with thedetent pawl mounted on the rotor of the ignition starting switch in sucha way that the ignition starting switch cannot be turned into a positionin which the key can be pulled out. The catch held in the lockedposition by the locking pin merely prevents the ignition starting switchfrom being turned into a position in which key can be pulled out. Thismeans that the ignition starting switch can still be turned in theopposite direction, for example, for starting the engine of the motorvehicle.

[0011] The modular housing preferably contains a taper in the region ofthe ignition starting switch, wherein the opening for the catch isarranged in the region of this taper. The taper causes the axis ofrotation of the catch to be situated relatively close to the axis ofrotation of the detent pawl such that favorable lever ratios and lowmechanical stress are ensured. A compact structural shape issimultaneously achieved.

[0012] In order to achieve a relatively high stability and functionalreliability with a low material expenditure, the catch preferably isrealized essentially right-angled, wherein one limb protrudes over thetaper of the modular housing in the locked position and acts upon alocking surface of the detent pawl while the locking pin engages behindthe other limb.

[0013] In order to effectively secure the catch from being turnedwithout requiring additional components, the limb of the catch whichacts upon the locking surface of the detent pawl adjoins an assignedhousing wall in the locked position.

[0014] According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, thecatch can be positively controlled by the detent pawl against the effectof a torsion spring in a neutral position in which the key can be pulledout of the ignition starting switch, namely while the corresponding limbof the catch adjoins the detent pawl. An outer corner point of the catchlimb assigned to the detent pawl always adjoins the periphery of thedetent pawl due to the spring effect. When the locking position isreached, the torsion spring turns the catch in the correspondingdirection, and the limb that adjoins the detent pawl comes in contactwith the locking surface.

[0015] In order to achieve a stable design, the coil element preferablyis realized in an essentially U-shaped fashion, wherein a coil isarranged between the limbs. The coil carries one limb of the tuning forkcontacts, and the locking pin extends through both limbs, as well as thecoil. The tuning fork contacts are surrounded by the material of thecoil element or are extrusion-coated just like the coil during themanufacture of the coil element.

[0016] The locking pin preferably comprises a head and an actuatingprojection for the catch, with a compression spring being arrangedbetween the head and one limb of the coil element, namely on a guideprojection of the locking pin. The metallic locking pin consequentlyrepresents a spring-loaded rotary part of relatively simple design.

[0017] In the neutral position, the head of the locking pinadvantageously adjoins a limit stop of the upper housing part under theinfluence of the compression spring, with the actuating projectionreleasing the assigned limb of the catch of the locking disk. This meansthat the neutral position, in which the key can be pulled out of theignition starting switch and the ignition starting switch can be turnedinto arbitrary switching positions, is maintained in a purely mechanicalfashion by the compression spring. In addition, the locking pin is heldbetween the limit stop and the assigned limb of the coil element in acaptive fashion.

[0018] The coil preferably attracts the locking pin in the lockedposition in the axial direction against the effect of the compressionspring. In order to attract and thusly axially displace the locking pinin the direction of the catch of the locking disk, it is necessary tosupply the coil with power via the ignition starting switch depending onthe gear position of the transmission. The coil receives a signalregarding the gear position of the transmission via one of the tuningfork contacts connected to the contacts of the ignition starting switch,wherein the ignition starting switch is connected to the switchingcontact of the transmission via the printed circuit board.

[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention,the ignition starting switch comprises at least one displaceable contactthat is realized in the form of a contact spring and acts upon a contactpath for supplying the coil with power when the key is inserted. Thisalleviates the battery of the motor vehicle during the time at which nokey is inserted into the ignition starting switch. In addition, the coilis not heated so its service life is extended.

[0020] In order to also disengage the battery during the operation ofthe motor vehicle, the power supply of the coil preferably is dependenton the rotational position of the key. The coil does not require currentwhile the engine of the motor vehicle is running, but only when the keyand consequently the ignition starting switch are turned in order toswitch off the engine or into a position in which the key can be pulledout of the ignition starting switch.

[0021] The steering column switch housing preferably accommodates otherindividual switches that are coupled to the printed circuit board. Thismeans that the printed circuit board arranged within the steering columnswitch housing fulfills a series of functions.

[0022] In order to simplify the installation, the steering column switchhousing contains guide means for unmistakably inserting the modularhousing of the locking mechanism. The guide means protect the tuningfork contacts of the locking mechanism and the contacts of the ignitionstarting switch from damage when the locking mechanism is inserted intothe steering column switch housing.

[0023] In order to fix the position of the components relative to oneanother, a web is preferably arranged between the contacts of theignition starting switch, wherein said web engages into a correspondingrecess between the tuning fork contacts of the locking mechanism. Due tothis measure, the tuning fork contacts of the locking mechanism arefixed in their position relative to the contacts of the ignitionstarting switch.

[0024] In order to ensure that the available space of the steeringcolumn switch housing is optimally utilized in the region of theignition starting switch and to provide an additional safety device,preferably a transponder coil for a drive-away lock which isfunctionally connected to a transmitter of the key is assigned to theignition starting switch, wherein said transponder coil is inserted intothe steering column switch housing and connected to the printed circuitboard.

[0025] It goes without saying that the previously describedcharacteristics, as well as the characteristics described below, cannotonly be used in the respectively described combination, but also inother combinations without deviating from the scope of the presentinvention.

[0026] The invention is described in greater detail below with referenceto one embodiment that is illustrated in the enclosed figures. Shownare:

[0027]FIG. 1, a perspective representation of a steering column switchhousing for a locking arrangement according to the invention;

[0028]FIG. 2, a perspective representation according to FIG. 1 viewed inthe direction of the arrow II;

[0029]FIG. 3, a perspective representation according to FIG. 1 viewed inthe direction of the arrow III;

[0030]FIG. 4, a perspective representation of a printed circuit boardwith the locking mechanism;

[0031]FIG. 5, an exploded view of detail V according to FIG. 2;

[0032]FIG. 6, a top view of detail VI according to FIG. 4;

[0033]FIG. 7, another top view of detail VI according to FIG. 4, and

[0034]FIG. 8, a partial top view of detail VIII according to FIG. 6.

[0035] The locking arrangement for preventing pulling of a key 1 out ofan ignition starting switch 2 of a motor vehicle comprises a lockingmechanism 3, as well as a detent pawl 5 that is fixed on a rotor 4 ofthe ignition starting switch 2. The ignition starting switch 2 and thelocking mechanism 3 are respectively inserted into separate openings 6,7 of a steering column switch housing 10 that is composed of an upperpart 8 and a lower part 9. The upper part 8 that is connected to thelower part 9 by means of clip-on elements 11, as well as screws insertedinto bores 12, contains receptacles 53 for not-shown individual switchesin the form of a blinker switch and a windshield wiper/washer switch. Inaddition, a recess 13 for a not-shown, spirally wound electricconnecting device is arranged in the upper part 8. In this case, theconnecting device couples an airbag module to an on-board network. Thelower part 9 of the steering column switch housing 10 is provided with acorrespondingly shaped receptacle 14 such that it can be fixed on anot-shown steering column jacket.

[0036] The locking mechanism 3 comprises a modular housing 17 that iscomposed of an upper housing part 15 and a lower housing part 16. Theupper housing part 15 and the lower housing part 16 are held together bymeans of a snap-on connection 18 and accommodate a coil element 19 withterminal contacts 21 that are realized in the form of tuning forkcontacts 20.

[0037] The coil element 19 is realized in a U-shaped fashion and holds acoil 24 between its limbs 22, 23. One of the limbs 22 carries the tuningfork contacts 20 that are injection-moulded into the coil element 19 andprotrude from an opening 30 in the upper housing part 15. A locking pin25 that extends through the limbs 22, 23 of the coil element 19 andcomprises a head 26 and an actuating projection 27 is inserted into thecoil. A guide projection 28 for a compression spring 29 is formedbetween the head 26 and the actuating projection 27. One end of thecompression spring 29 is supported on the assigned limb 23 of the coilelement 19, with its other end being supported on the head 26 of thelocking pin 25. A locking disk 31 with a catch 32 integrally formedthereon is rotatably supported in the upper housing part 16 above thetuning fork contacts 20 that are essentially arranged on the end face ofthe modular housing 17. A torsion spring 33 is assigned to the lockingdisk 31, with the catch 32 essentially being realized right-angled. Thecatch 32 has two limbs 35, 36 in order to act upon the detent pawl 5that is assigned to the ignition starting switch 2 and contains alocking surface 34, with one limb 35 being situated in the region of thedetent pawl 5 and the other limb 36 being assigned to the actuatingprojection 27 of the locking pin 25. In order to position the catch 32of the locking disk 31 as close as possible to the detent pawl 5, themodular housing 17 of the locking mechanism 3 contains a taper 37 inthis region, with an opening 38 for the assigned limb 35 being arrangedin the modular housing 17 in the region of the taper 37.

[0038] The ignition starting switch 2 inserted into the correspondingopening 6 of the steering column switch housing 10 comprises a pressedscreen 39 with contacts 40 that contact a printed circuit board 41inserted into the steering column switch housing 10, as well as contacts45 that engage into the tuning fork contacts 20 of the locking mechanism3. A web 46 arranged between the contacts 45 engages into acorresponding recess 47 between the tuning fork contacts 20. The printedcircuit board 41 also contains terminals 42 for the individual switchesand a plug-type connection 43 for a transponder coil that is arranged inthe region of the ignition starting switch 2 and cooperates with atransmitter of the key 1, as well as a drive-away lock. In otherrespects, a coupling device 44 for realizing connection with an on-boardnetwork and a bus system of the motor vehicle is assigned to the printedcircuit board 41. The printed circuit board 41 and the ignition startingswitch 3 are connected to a switching contact of a transmission via thiscoupling device 44, with said switching contact delivering informationwith respect to the gear position of the transmission.

[0039] Once the ignition starting switch 2 is inserted, the lockingmechanism 3 is installed by inserting the locking mechanism 3 into thecorresponding opening 7 in the steering column switch housing 10,wherein a clip-on arm 48 that is integrally formed onto the lowerhousing part 16 produces a mechanical clip-on connection with thesteering column switch housing 10, and with the tuning fork contacts 20accommodating the contacts 45 of the ignition starting switch 2. Thismeans that the mechanical connection between the locking mechanism 3 andthe steering column switch housing 10 and the electric connectionbetween the locking mechanism 3 and the ignition starting switch 2 aresimultaneously produced. The opening 7 in the steering column switchhousing 10 contains guide means 51 for unmistakably inserting themodular housing 17.

[0040] When the catch 32 of the locking mechanism 3 is situated in alocked position in which the key cannot be pulled out of the ignitionstarting switch 2, the limb 35 of the catch 32 contacts the lockingsurface 34 of the detent pawl 5 fixed on the rotor 4 of the ignitionstarting switch 2 under the influence of the torsion spring 33, withsaid limb being supported on a housing wall 49 of the lower housing part16. The actuating projection 27 of the locking pin 25 simultaneouslyengages behind the limb 36 of the catch 32 such that the catch isprevented from being turned into the position in which the key 1 can bepulled out. In order to engage behind the limb 36, the coil 23 of thelocking mechanism 3 is supplied with power via the ignition startingswitch 2, with the locking pin 25 being axially displaced against theeffect of the compression spring 29 and held in this position.

[0041] If the transmission is now shifted into the park or idle/neutralgear position, the power supply of the coil 23 is interrupted, the head26 of the locking pin 25 contacts the limit stop 50 due to the effect ofthe compression spring 29 and the catch 32 of the locking mechanism 3 ismoved into a neutral position in which the key 1 can be pulled out ofthe ignition starting switch 2. In this neutral position, the limb 35 ofthe catch 32 adjoins the periphery of the detent pawl 5 under theinfluence of the torsion spring 33 and is positively controlled by thedetent pawl.

[0042] In order to disengage the battery of the motor vehicle, theignition starting switch 2 comprises displaceable contacts 52 that, whenthe key 1 is inserted, act upon assigned strip contacts of the pressedscreen 39 for the power supply of the coil 24. Since the coil 24 onlyneeds to be supplied with power within a certain angular range thatdepends on the rotational position of the key 1, the strip contactsassigned to the displaceable contacts 52 cover this angular range. Stripcontacts are not provided within the range in which the engine of themotor vehicle is running.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0043]1 Key

[0044]2 Ignition starting switch

[0045]3 Locking mechanism

[0046]4 Rotor

[0047]5 Detent pawl

[0048]6 Opening

[0049]7 Opening

[0050]8 Upper part

[0051]9 Lower part

[0052]10 Steering column switch housing

[0053]11 Clip-on connection

[0054]12 Bore

[0055]13 Recess

[0056]14 Receptacle

[0057]15 Upper housing part

[0058]16 Lower housing part

[0059]17 Modular housing

[0060]18 Snap-on connection

[0061]19 Coil element

[0062]20 Tuning fork contact

[0063]21 Terminal contact

[0064]22 Limb

[0065]23 Limb

[0066]24 Coil

[0067]25 Locking pin

[0068]26 Head

[0069]27 Actuating projection

[0070]28 Guide projection

[0071]29 Compression spring

[0072]30 Opening

[0073]31 Locking disk

[0074]32 Catch

[0075]33 Torsion spring

[0076]34 Locking surface

[0077]35 Limb

[0078]36 Limb

[0079]37 Taper

[0080]38 Opening

[0081]39 Pressed screen

[0082]40 Contact

[0083]41 Printed circuit board

[0084]42 Terminal

[0085]43 Plug-type connection

[0086]44 Coupling device

[0087]45 Contact

[0088]46 Web

[0089]47 Recess

[0090]48 Clip-on arm

[0091]49 Housing wall

[0092]50 Limit stop

[0093]51 Guide means

[0094]52 Displaceable contact

[0095]53 Receptacle

1. Locking arrangement for preventing a key (1) from being pulled out ofan ignition starting switch (2) of a motor vehicle, with a lockingmechanism (3) that is coupled to a switching contact of thetransmission, wherein the spring-loaded locking pin (25) of said lockingmechanism can be electromagnetically actuated, and wherein the lockingmechanism acts upon a detent pawl (5) that is fixed on a rotor (4) ofthe ignition starting switch (2) and prevents the ignition startingswitch (2) from being turned into a position in which the key (1) can bepulled out depending on the gear position of the transmission,characterized by the fact that the locking mechanism (3) and theignition starting switch (2) are respectively inserted into separateopenings (6, 7) of a steering column switch housing (10) that is rigidlyarranged on the steering column jacket, wherein the locking mechanism(3) is mechanically interlocked with the steering column switch housing(10) after being inserted therein and electrically connected to contacts(45) of the ignition starting switch (2) via terminal contacts (21), andwherein the ignition starting switch is connected to an on-board networkvia a printed circuit board (41) arranged in the steering column switchhousing (10).
 2. Locking arrangement according to claim 1, characterizedby the fact that the locking mechanism (3) comprises a modular housing(17) that is composed of a lower housing part (16) and an upper housingpart (15) and serves for accommodating a coil element (19) with terminalcontacts (21) that are arranged on its end face and realized in the formof tuning fork contacts (20).
 3. Locking arrangement according to claim2, characterized by the fact that the lower housing part (16) isprovided with a clip-on arm (48) for being mechanically interlocked inthe steering column switch housing (10).
 4. Locking arrangementaccording to claims 2 and 3, characterized by the fact that the lowerhousing part (16) and the upper housing part (15) of the modular housing(17) are held together by means of snap-on connections (18), with thetuning fork contacts (20) protruding from a corresponding opening (30)in the lower housing part (16).
 5. Locking arrangement according to oneof claims 2-4, characterized by the fact that a spring-loaded lockingdisk (31) with a catch (32) is rotatably supported in the upper housingpart (15) above the tuning fork contacts (20), with the catch (32)protruding out of an opening (38) of the modular housing (17) andcooperating with the detent pawl (5) of the ignition starting switch (2)on one hand and with the locking pin (25) on the other hand in a lockedposition in which the key (1) is prevented from being pulled out of theignition starting switch.
 6. Locking arrangement according to claim 6[sic], characterized by the fact that the modular housing (17) containsa taper (37) in the region of the ignition starting switch (2), with theopening (38) for the catch (32) being arranged in the region of thetaper.
 7. Locking arrangement according to claims 6 and 7, characterizedby the fact that the catch (32) is essentially realized right-angled,with one limb (35) protruding over the taper (37) of the modular housing(17) and acting upon a locking surface (34) of the detent pawl (5) inthe locked position, and with the locking pin (25) engaging behind theother limb (36).
 8. Locking arrangement according to claim 7,characterized by the fact that the limb (35) of the catch (32) whichacts upon the locking surface (34) of the detent pawl (5) adjoins anassigned housing wall (49) in the locked position.
 9. Lockingarrangement according to one of claims 5-8, characterized by the factthat, in a neutral position in which the key (1) can be pulled out ofthe ignition starting switch, the catch (32) can be positivelycontrolled by the detent pawl (5) against the effect of a torsion spring(33) while the corresponding limb (35) adjoins said detent pawl. 10.Locking arrangement according to one of claims 1-9, characterized by thefact that the coil element (19) is essentially realized in a U-shapedfashion, with a coil (24) is arranged between the two limbs (22, 23),one limb (22) carries the tuning fork contacts (20) and the locking pin(25) extends through both limbs (22, 23) as well as the coil (24). 11.Locking arrangement according to one of claims 1-10, characterized bythe fact that the locking pin (25) comprises a head (26) and anactuating projection (27) for the catch (32), and by the fact that acompression spring (29) is arranged between the head (26) and one limb(23) of the coil element (19), namely on a guide projection (28) of thelocking pin (25).
 12. Locking arrangement according to one of claims1-11, characterized by the fact that the head (26) of the locking pin(25) adjoins a limit stop (50) of the upper housing part (15) under theinfluence of the compression spring (29) in the neutral position, withthe actuating projection (27) releasing the assigned limb (36) of thecatch (32) of the locking disk (31).
 13. Locking arrangement accordingto one of claims 1-12, characterized by the fact that the coil (24)attracts the locking pin (25) in the axial direction against the effectof the compression spring (29) in the locked position.
 14. Lockingarrangement according to one of claims 1-13, characterized by the factthat the ignition starting switch (2) comprises at least onedisplaceable contact (52) in the form of a contact spring that acts upona strip contact for the power supply of the coil (24) when the key (1)is inserted.
 15. Locking arrangement according to claim 14,characterized by the fact that the power supply of the coil (24) dependson the rotational position of the key (1).
 16. Locking arrangementaccording to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the steering columnswitch housing (10) accommodates other individual switches that arecoupled to the printed circuit board (41).
 17. Locking arrangementaccording to one of claims 1-16, characterized by the fact that thesteering column switch housing (10) contains guide means (51) forunmistakably inserting the modular housing (17) of the locking mechanism(3).
 18. Locking arrangement according to one of claims 1-17,characterized by the fact that a web (46) is arranged between thecontacts (45) of the ignition starting switch (2), with said webengaging into a corresponding recess (47) between the tuning forkcontacts (20) of the locking mechanism (3).
 19. Locking arrangementaccording to one of claims 1-18, characterized by the fact that atransponder coil for a drive-away lock which is functionally connectedto a transmitter of the key (1) is assigned to the ignition startingswitch (2), with said transponder coil being inserted into the steeringcolumn switch housing (10) and connected to the printed circuit board(41).